There was much rejoicing among Britney Spears' fans after being freed from her conservatorship 18 months ago, but there are now concerns that maybe not enough guardrails were put in place to create a safe environment.
"There are big problems," TMZ Executive Producer Harvey Levin said in an upcoming special titled, "TMZ Investigates: Britney Spears: The Price of Freedom."
For 13 years, the pop star was under a conservatorship led by her father, Jamie Spears. In February 2021, Brit accused her conservators of bullying and abuse. Soon after, Jamie agreed to step down from his leading role in Britney's life and a judge eventually terminated the conservatorship, which made her in control of her finances and personal affairs.
With no one standing in the way of her decisions Britney has begun to worry friends and fans. The upcoming special says there is concern "among those closest to her that she's a danger to herself and others."
Britney, the special says, has had a fasciation with knives, and there was even a recommendation at the end of the conservatorship to keep knives away from her.
"She lives in constant fear of being re-institutionalized," Harvey said.
In addition, there are rumors that Britney's 11-month marriage to Sam Asghari is in shambles. The special claims the "Toxic" singer "got physical with Sam" and that her marriage is in "deep trouble."
Only fueling the flames, Britney ditched her wedding ring during a recent vacation in Puerto Rico. Sam did appear on her Instagram on April 27 for the first time in a month and a half.
Her alleged crumbling marriage is just one piece of the troubling puzzle. According to a TMZ report in February, those close to Britney felt an intervention was direly needed because people around her had become deeply alarmed by what TMZ described as "her erratic, volatile behavior." A source told the webloid that the singer was taking medications that "hype her up" — but not taking the medications that stabilize her — and that she'd been "flying off the handle" with increasing regularity. But, the intervention was suddenly scrapped, TMZ reported, after Britney caught wind of it. "I'm afraid she's gonna die," one source in regular contact with Britney told TMZ.
The "Hit Me Baby One More Time" songstress has also exhibited bizarre behavior on social media, too. In a Feb. 21, 2023, video, Brit spoke in a British-Australian accent and warned followers not to "call the cops" if she shuts down her Instagram account before shouting, "Don't ever be a roller coaster!" She then ran out of view.
The new special, though, says there is "hope" for Britney as a performer, suggesting she's "probably still in the top five people."